Avoid Foreclosure 'Rescue' Scams and/or Fraud

Free and objective assistance from a nonprofit housing counselor, legal representative, and your lender is available!

Some companies will promise you mortgage help for a fee. Some advertise their services on signs on telephone poles and in median strips. Some may be legitimate, but others have taken costly advantage of Florida consumers.

Beware of situations that involve someone advertising, sending an e-mail, or coming to your door offering a 'way out' or 'rescuing you from foreclosure.' These 'rescue scams' are illegal.

Avoid high-rate loans that are offered as a way out of foreclosure. (They will make things worse.) Requests for high fees or money to pay the mortgage (payable to someone other than the mortgage company) are also signs of scams. Offers of new mortgages as a way out of foreclosure can lead to disastrous deals which will make your situation impossible to resolve. If you do sign a new mortgage under pressure of foreclosure, remember that you have three business days to cancel.

Mortgage fraud is a serious crime in Florida. Mortgage fraud can include any misrepresentation or omission of information during the mortgage process. Anyone who commits mortgage fraud can be fined or sent to jail and you have the right to sue those who commit fraud against you during the mortgage transaction.

Don't sign any legal documents without getting objective advice from a qualified attorney. More information about legal assistance and predatory real estate practices is available here.

Click here for a list of legal representatives approved by the City of Jacksonville.

Example: A person will tell you, the only way to avoid foreclosure is to sign over the deed to your home. They will say that you can remain in the home as a renter, and buy it back later. In reality, they strip your home of its equity and stop making payments. You get evicted from the property and lose your home!